The U (documentary)
Encyclopedia
The U is a 2009 documentary film produced by Miami based media studio rakontur
and directed by Billy Corben. The U covers the rise and dominance of the Miami Hurricanes football
team during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The film premiered December 12, 2009 after the Heisman Trophy
presentation on ESPN
as a part of their 30 for 30
documentary series. The U's premiere drew 2.3 million viewers, the most ever for a documentary on the sports cable network.
Rakontur
Rakontur is a Miami-based media studio founded by Alfred Spellman and Billy Corben in 2000.-History:Rakontur's feature documentary debut, Raw Deal: A Question of Consent, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2001, making Corben one of the youngest directors in Sundance history...
and directed by Billy Corben. The U covers the rise and dominance of the Miami Hurricanes football
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
team during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The film premiered December 12, 2009 after the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
presentation on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as a part of their 30 for 30
30 for 30
30 for 30 is the umbrella title for a series of documentaries airing on ESPN and its sister networks. The series, which premiered in October 2009 and concluded in December 2010, chronicles 30 stories from the "ESPN era," each of which detail the issues, trends, people, teams, or events that...
documentary series. The U's premiere drew 2.3 million viewers, the most ever for a documentary on the sports cable network.
Interviewees
- Howard SchnellenbergerHoward SchnellenbergerHoward Schnellenberger is an American football coach at both the professional and college level. He is currently in his final season as head coach of Florida Atlantic University, having announced his retirement on August 11, 2011, effective at the end of the 2011 season...
- Jimmy JohnsonJimmy Johnson (American football coach)James William "Jimmy" Johnson is an American former NCAA and National Football League head coach. As of 2010, he is currently an analyst for Fox NFL Sunday, the Fox network's NFL pregame show. He was the first football coach whose teams won both an NCAA Division 1A National Championship and a...
- Dennis EricksonDennis EricksonDennis Erickson is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Arizona State University until November 28, 2011, a position he had held since the 2007 season. In 2008 the Arizona Board of Regents had approved a contract extension to keep Erickson at Arizona...
- Michael IrvinMichael IrvinMichael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
- Melvin BrattonMelvin BrattonMelvin Bratton attended the University of Miami, where he played running back for the Miami Hurricanes and starred in the national championship game at the 1988 Orange Bowl against Oklahoma, where he blew out his knee...
- Alonzo HighsmithAlonzo HighsmithAlonzo Walter Highsmith is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
- Jonathan Vilma
- Willis McGaheeWillis McGaheeWillis Andrew McGahee III is an American football running back for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
- Jeremy ShockeyJeremy ShockeyJeremy Charles Shockey is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants 14th overall in the 2002 NFL Draft...
- Bennie BladesBennie BladesHoratio Benedict "Bennie" Blades Sr. is a former American football cornerback and safety in the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami.-University of Miami:...
- Luther CampbellLuther CampbellLuther R. Campbell , also known as Luke Skyywalker, Uncle Luke or Luke, is a record label owner, rap performer , and actor...
- Jessie ArmsteadJessie ArmsteadJessie Willard Armstead is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for eleven seasons with the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins between 1993 and 2003. He played college football at the University of Miami.-High school career:Armstead attended...
- Drew RosenhausDrew RosenhausDrew Rosenhaus is an American sports agent who represents professional football players. He owns the Miami-based sports agency, Rosenhaus Sports, and is known for using aggressive tactics on behalf of his clients who play in the National Football League.Rosenhaus currently represents approximately...
- Santana MossSantana MossSantana Terrell Moss is an American football wide receiver for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Miami.-Early years:...
- Steve Walsh
- Lamar ThomasLamar ThomasLamar Thomas is a former NFL player and former color commentator. Thomas played college football, college basketball and ran Track at the University of Miami before being drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.With the University of Miami Thomas set a...
- Bernie KosarBernie KosarBernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
- Leon SearcyLeon SearcyLeon Searcy is an American football coach and former player.Searcy is a former NFL offensive lineman, who played primarily with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Jacksonville Jaguars in an 11-year career spanning between 1992 and 2002...
- Brett PerrimanBrett PerrimanBrett Perriman is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints , the Detroit Lions , the Kansas City Chiefs , and the Miami Dolphins...
- Duane StarksDuane StarksDuane Lonell Starks is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens 10th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft...
- Sam JankovichSam JankovichSam Jankovich, a Butte, Montana native is sports administrator that has held several positions including athletic director at the Washington State and the University of Miami...
- Tolbert Bain
- Randal HillRandal HillRandal "Thrill" Hill is a former professional American football player in the NFL who was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft, then later traded to the Cardinals. A 5'10", . wide receiver from the University of Miami, Hill played in 7 NFL seasons from 1991 to...
- Mario CristobalMario Cristobal-External links:*...
- Robert BaileyRobert BaileyRobert Martin Bailey is a former American football cornerback who played eleven seasons for six teams, the Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, the Washington Redskins, the Detroit Lions, and the Baltimore Ravens from 1991 to 2001 in the National Football League.Bailey played college football at...
- Ryan McNeilRyan McNeil (American football)Ryan Darrell McNeil is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Miami....
- Carlos HuertaCarlos HuertaCarlos Huerta was a gridiron football kicker in three professional leagues.After playing his college football at the University of Miami, Huerta joined the Las Vegas Posse, a Canadian Football League expansion franchise...
- K. C. JonesK. C. Jones (American football)Kirk Cameron Jones is a former American football center for the Denver Broncos from 1997-2000. Played college football at the University of Miami from 1993-1996 at the position of Center....
- Dan Le BatardDan Le BatardDan Le Batard is a Cuban-American newspaper sportswriter, radio host, and television reporter based out of Miami, Florida. Le Batard graduated from the University of Miami in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism and politics. During his college career, he was a sportswriter for the...
- Don Soldinger
- Kelvin Harris
- Kevin Brinkworth
- Jerry Rushin
- James T
- John Routh
- Art Kehoe
- Don Bailey Jr.